--Modular Body Armor Vests

The U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command (RDECOM) at Natick, acting on behalf of the U.S. Special Operations Command’s Soldier System Center, plans to negotiate a sole source purchase order with Eagle Industries for 789 Modular Body Armor Vests (MBAV). This procurement is conducted under the Federal Acquisition Regulation Part 13.5, which allows for streamlined acquisitions of certain commercial items, and adheres to the Clinger-Cohen Act of 1996 procedures. Eagle Industries is identified as the only provider capable of meeting the specific performance, functionality, and sizing criteria necessary for the MBAV, which must be compatible with the unique SPEAR ballistic plates approved by SOCOM. Procuring from any other source would require extensive testing and evaluation, estimated to take up to six months, which is not feasible given the urgent need to supply deploying troops. The contract emphasizes that the delivery timeline of 60 days after receipt of order is critical to meet operational demands, reinforcing the non-viability of alternative products due to compatibility and evaluation constraints. The solicitation, identified by number USA-SNOTE-070919-004, is managed by the Natick Contracting Division located in Natick, Massachusetts, under NAICS code 339999, covering miscellaneous manufacturing. Interested parties or inquiries regarding the acquisition are directed to Mr. Christopher Heim at the Natick Contracting office. This procurement opportunity was posted on September 19, 2007, and the solicitation announcement was set to expire at noon local time on September 24, 2007.